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I am currently in the process of migrating the content shared here to a series of new websites hosted at shirleytwofeathers.com.

As you explore this site, you may find links to a "page not found" instead of something cool and magickal. For this I apologize. I am very working hard behind the scenes to restore those pages along with a link to their homes on my new website where they can be viewed in full.

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Thursday, June 27, 2013

Gather your rose on the 27th of June; let it be full blown, and as bright a red as you can get. Pluck it between the hours of three and four in the morning, taking care to have no witness of the transaction.

Convey it to your chamber, and hold it over a chafing dish or any convenient utensil for the purpose, in which there is charcoal and sulphur of brimstone; hold your rose over the smoke for about five minutes, and you will see it have a wonderful effect on the flower....

Monday, June 24, 2013

Bonfires of Saint John is a popular festival celebrated around June 24, (Saint John's day) in several towns in Spain. For this festival, people gather together and create large bonfires from any kind of wood, such as old furniture, and share hot chocolate while teens and children jump over the fires....

Sunday, June 23, 2013

On a popsicle stick, write your full name. On the other side of the popsicle stick, write the full name of a person you want sweet thoughts from. Get a jar big enough to put the popsicle stick inside and fill the jar with water, honey, and sugar. Seal up the lid of the jar tight so that its contents can't spill out.

In your mind get a clear image of the person whose name you have written on the popsicle stick opposite your own. Shake the bottle as you chant three, five, seven, or nine times:

Sweet, sweet

thoughts of me,

you will think,

constantly.

It is said that each time you shake the bottle, the person will think sweet thoughts of you.

The courtship of Inanna and Dumuzi is one of the oldest love poems from the ancient world. It is a story of love between the gods (although some argue that Dumuzi was a real person, who rose to power, and so attained mythical divine status). When the gods consummate their love the result is fedundity on earth, particularly for their worshippers.

This Sumerian text is often compared to the Song of Songs. The Egyptian love poetry makes a better parallel, but there are some connections. However, this is much more explicitly sexual than the Song, and, of course, it is about divine lovers.

The belief that some persons had the power of injuring others by their looks, was as prevalent among the Greeks and Romans as it is among the superstitious in modern times. The ὀφθαλμὸς βάσκανος, or evil eye, is frequently mentioned by ancient writers. It was supposed to injure children particularly, but sometimes cattle also.

"Nescio quis teneros oculos mihi fascinat agnum."

~Virgil

Various amulets were used to avert the influence of the evil eye....

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been rewritten and moved to my new website, Book of Shadows, and the new and improved version can be found here: Averting The Evil Eye

Friday, June 21, 2013

If you possibly can, on the day of the Solstice go to the seashore, and at the low tide draw a solar image in the sand. Make it as large and ornate as you can, for this is in honor of the Sun. In the center place three stones or pieces of wood for three things you would like to change in your life. Position yourself where you can watch the incoming tide slowly erasing your image...

In Sweden and Norway at the Solstice, people made wheels of fortune. Some of the wheels were wrapped in straw, set on fire, and rolled down hill. Other wheels were decorated and kept. These were used in two ways: One, the wheel was rolled away from a person to take away misfortunes; two, it was rolled toward a person to bring all kinds of good fortune....

Eat crabmeat to protect home and family. Use the shell of the horseshoe crab for real estate magick. Stuff the empty shell with lavender and sage to protect your dwelling. This is particularly effective when you are in danger of losing a space because of financial problems. If you are buying or renting property and need to come up with a down payment, stuff the crab shell with cinnamon sticks, bay leaves and sea salt.

About the Lady of Regla: This West Indian fish mother swims in with summer rains as the bearer of fertility, family unity, prospective life mates, and other traditionally lunar energies. Shown in art looking much like a mermaid, the Lady of Regla is also the patroness of this astrological sign.

To Do Today:

In astrology, those born under the sign of Cancer have a great deal of compassion, desire family closeness and stability, and are ruled by the moon, all of which characterize this goddess's energies to a tee. How you emphasize those powers depends on what you need. For harmony at home, add blue highlights to your decorating scheme, and wear pale blue clothing when having difficult conversations.

Eat fish or crab today to digest a little extra self-love or empathy, or to encourage fertility in any area of your life. To spice up this magic, serve the fish with a bit of lemon juice - a fruit that emphasizes devotion and kinship.

If you'd like to dream of future loves or get the Lady of Regla's perspective on a difficult family situation, leave her an offering of yams before going to bed. According to local custom, this invokes Regla's favor and you will experience helpful night visions - so take notes!

Thursday, June 20, 2013

One of the most important archetypal bird symbols, the prominence of the eagle is a worldwide phenomenon. The eagle is the "King of the Birds" and the "Lion of the Skies," and its use as a symbol is clear. It resembles power, authority, nobility, and truth, it is the ultimate solar symbol. In Greek, the name of the eagle shares the same stem as aigle, meaning "ray of light."

Over the years in Christian iconography, the eagle has represented a special messenger from Heaven, the spirit of prophecy, a prayer rising swiftly to God, and even the Ascension of Christ. St. John the Evangelist is identified with the eagle. Here, the eagle represents divine inspiration.

Psalms 103:5, "so that thy youth is renewed like an eagle's"; and Isaiah 40:31, "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles," both allude to the old Hebrew belief that the eagle had the ability to plunge into the sea and regenerate itself every 10 years.

The saying "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" also applies here, because the bird is reputedly the natural enemy of snakes, and the eagle has been regarded as on the "side" of God ever since the Devil was symbolized as the serpent in the Garden of Eden, tempting Adam and Eve away from the straight and narrow path of good towards the twisting and corrupting path of evil.

However, the eagle and the snake seen together symbolize the opposing concepts of matter and spirit, Earth and Heaven, instinct and intellect, the mundane and the sublime, and therefore the unity of the cosmos. In Norse mythology, the eagle sits in the great World Tree, Yggdrasil, counterbalanced by the serpent that twines about the tree's roots.

The eagle's reputation as a symbol of truth comes from its sharp sightedness; the eyesight of the eagle is at least four times superior to that of human beings, and combined with its high-flying abilities it means that the bird can see the bigger picture, quite literally. Therefore, it is meant to be able to discern truth from falsehood.

Because it flies so high, often appearing to be heading straight for the Sun, people believed that the eagle was the only creature in the world able to gaze directly into the brightness of the Sun without hurting its eyes. Therefore, the bird also symbolizes mental and spiritual enlightenment and the aspiration of a pure heart, able to look into the face of God with no fear.

Shamans believe that the eagle communicated their gifts directly from God, the bird acting as intermediary. Because the eagle could appear to fly so close to the sun, the Medicine priests of all the tribes regarded the large bird as a very special messenger of the Great Mystery. They believe that the first shaman was conceived after an eagle impregnated a woman, another symbol of the bird as a divine spirit or winged messenger. This has parallels with another winged creature, the Angel Gabriel, who told Mary of her impending condition. In both cases, the resulting child is a sort of spiritual hybrid, able to connect God and Man.

In the old days, eagle feathers were used whenever possible on Native American war bonnets, rattles, shields, pipes, baskets, prayer sticks, and all kinds of ceremonial costumes. The very style in which the feathers were clipped, colored, and arranged on a chief's or warrior's clothing would reveal his rank in the tribe and the deeds that he had accomplished to earn that rank. Today, of course, with the eagle on the endangered species list, psuedo-eagle feathers are created from crow, chicken, and turkey feathers.

For native Americans, the power of the eagle is such that possession of one of its feathers is the ultimate accolade, a sacred symbol of the mightiness of the bird and of its special place within the Native American pantheon. The eagle is the "father" of the people, a God, and illicit possession of a feather by anyone who does not have the right to have it is punishable by hefty fines.

The origin of placing such high esteem on eagle feathers was told in an old Native American folktale that recounts how all the birds met one day to decide once and for all which could fly the highest. Some flew up very swiftly, but soon became tired, but the eagle flew beyond them all and was about to calim the victory when the crafty gray linnet suddenly emerged from its hiding place on the eagle's back and, fresh and rested, succeeded in flying the highest.

When the birds came back to alight on the Earth Mother, the great council of fowls still voted to award the prize to the eagle, for not only had it flown closer to the sun than the other birds, it had done so with the linnet on its back. Hence, from that day forward, the feathers of the eagle were esteemed the most honorable adornment for the warrior, as it is not only the bravest bird, but it is also endowed with the strength to soar the highest.

The eagle feather is not only sacred to Native Americans, but to Hindus, too, where the eagle brought a food called Soma to humankind from the Gods. In India, the Vedic tradition portrays the eagle as a messenger of divinity and as the bearer of soma, the favorite drink of the Vedi gods, from Indra.

For the Aztecs, the eagle was not associated with the lion but with the jaguar, and the throne of the Aztec emperor was decorated with eagle feathers and jaguar skin to symbolize his association with these powerful creatures. The eagle "told" the people where Mexico City should be built, duly appearing perched on a cactus growing out of a rock, as decreed by an ancient legend.

An old Aztec folktale tells of the ciuapipiltin, spirits of women who died in childbirth, who returned to the earth to snare the children of living mothers. These entities could appear in the form of ghostly women or as an eagle, swooping down from the sky.

Among ancient Mediterranean people, the eagle was associated with the sun god, fire, and lightning. Zeus, the father of the classical gods, took the form of an eagle when he carried his young lover Ganymede to Mt. Olympus. This was often interpreted as a symbol of the father-god's reception of men's souls when they were initiated into the solar Mysteries.

For the Romans, the eagle became a symbol of the soverignty of its emperors, and the image was carried before the Empire's legions as they set about conquering the known world. As the royal bird of Rome, and the embodiment of deified emperors, the eagle was worshipped by Roman legionaries. Each legion had its sacred eagles, carried into battle like banners. If a legion should lose its eagles, the disgrace was unbearable; another whole expedition might be mounted to recover them.

The Roman imperial emblem was inherited by the Germanic "Holy Roman Empire" and its Kaisers, derived from Caesars. Thus the eagle became a Teutonic symbol of soverignty.

The eagle has always been the emblem par excellence of emperors and empires, even prior to its presence on the imperial standard of the Caesars and it's latter-day use as the symbol of the United States, where the altogether more humble dove balances its grandiose power. The death of an emperor was heralded by the release of eagles into the skies, symbolic of the soul ascending to the Heavens.

The eagle became a popular symbol of power among the Germanic people because the great bird was representative of Wodan, the ruler of the gods. As with the Romans before them with their Caesars the eagle's mastery of the heavens came to symbolize the sovereignty of the German kaisers. However, more sinisterly, the symbolic power and attributes of the eagle were appropriated by the Nazis to bolster their own image. This is an instance where a powerful symbol can be abuse, something that also happened to another ancient solar symbol, the swastika, whose implicit benevolent meaning is unfortunately still tainted because of its use by the Nazis.

The Greeks, too, accorded the eagle with the power to indicate a sacred site, and Delphi, the site of the Omphalos (the "navel" or the spiritual center of the world) was established at the spot where two eagles, released from the ends of the earth by Zeus, crossed in the sky.

The eagle shares much of the same symbolism as the phoenix - that of the Sun that never dies. The eagle was often identified with the fire bird, who underwent a baptism of the fire that "burns all sins" and was reborn from his own ashes. The eagle also stood for the soul of Heracles, who passed through fire into heaven at seasonal festivals of Tarsus, and inspired St. Paul's belief in the virtue of giving one's body do be burned (1 Corinthians 13:3). The eagle was the totemic form of Prometheus, who "stole" fire from heaven, like the eastern fire-lightning-sun hero, man, or angel embodied in the Garuda bird. Garuda flew to the mountain of paradise to steal the gods' secret of immortality. Later, he assumed the golden body of the sun. American Indians had a similar hero, the thunderbird or lightning bird.

Classic soul-bird, symbol of apotheosis the eagle is associated with the sun god, fire, and lightning. Greeks thought eagles so closely akin to the lightning spirit that they nailed eagles to the peaks of temples to serve as magic lightning rods. Hence the name aetoi, "eagles," for the pediments of Greek temples. These were ancient forerunners of the "weather-vanes" on the rooftree of a barn or house.

The eagle was connected with rites of calling down "fire from heaven," probably with a burning-glass, to consume sacrifices on the altar. Such "fire from heaven" came down from Yahweh to consume the sons of Aaron (Leviticus 10:2), who died like sacrificial victims to the solar gods of Tyre. Such victims "passed through the fire" as offerings, and rose to heaven in the form of eagles.

Cults of fire and sun made the eagel a bearer of kingly spirit: the god's soul returning to heaven after a period of earthly incarnation as the king. It was the Roman custom to release an eagle above the funeral pyre of each emperor, just as an Egyptian pharoah rose to heaven on the wings of the solar hawk.

Note: We must bear in mind that in the East, whence all these beliefs and cults derive, not only was fire regarded as an all-powerful purifying agent, but death by fire was looked upon as an apotheosis which raised the victim to the rank of the gods..."Fire," says Iambilchus, "destroys the material part of sacrifices, it purifies all things that are brought near it, releasing them from the bonds of matter and, in virtue of the purity of its nature, making them meed for communion with the gods. So, too, it releases us from bondage of corruption, it likens us to the gods."

About the Mother of All Eagles: On the warm summer winds, Eagle Mother glides into our reality, carries us above our circumstances, and stretches our vision. Among Native Americans, the Eagle Mother represents healing, her feathers often being used ....

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

We have the right to include or exclude anyone from our homes or even our immediate surroundings if we do not wish their presence.

This binding spell is very simple, but requires full concentration. Use a short length of black thread. Visualize the person or persons you wish to exclude. Tie a knot in one end of the thread, saying:

One to seek him/her/them.

Tie a knot in the middle and say:

One to find him/her/them.

Tie a knot in the other end saying:

One to bring them/her/him

Tie ends together and say:

One to bind him/her/them.

Stone to stone, forever one.

So say I. This spell is done.

Bury the knotted thread off your property. If you can't do that, drop it in a river, or out the car window along the highway headed out of town. The idea is that as you tie the knots you are binding (or attaching) the person into the knot and once the spell is cast, the thread must be disposed of in a way that it can't come back to you.

Note: This spell can also be used to get rid of situations and circumstances that look as if they might be headed in your direction. Also, be aware, the intention of the spell is to keep someone away from you - not to cause them harm.

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

I am the Dakini of calming, healing, and making whole
I am invoked when the meditator is tired, disillusioned, or sad
I come to aid those who have tried sincerely but have not the strength
To fight their way to liberation
I strengthen the weak, and bring idealism and compassion
I have them help themselves on their own path
by helping others....

I have been enjoying the book, 365 Goddess. In this book, the author explores a different goddess every day in the context of rituals, feast days, holidays, festivals, and celebrations from around the world. Today is the celebration is the Hemis festival.

This festival includes a ritual play in which all manner of mythic creatures are poised against the Tibetan lamas, symbolizing the battle between good and evil. bells, censers, cymbals, and drums draw in positive magic, banish evil, and win the fight for goodness.

The goddesses assigned for this day are the Ratna Dakinis. In Tibet, these goddesses rule over all gestures of goodness and compassion, which naturally help improve karma. Collectively, their names mean "inestimable," showing us the true power and value in acts of kindness that are driven by a pure heart.

The book also includes ideas for simple magical rituals and/or easy spells that are in keeping with the theme for the day. And so we find that for the Hemis festival the themes are the: banishing; victory; kindness; karma, and the color yellow.
For today, the suggestions are to wear something yellow, and also try to keep the Ratna Dakinis in mind so that your actions will be gentle and filled with kindness. You could also, using yellow ribbons, string together a collection of small bells for a Ratna Dakinis house amulet. Hold these in your hand and empower them by saying:

Let your goodness ring, let purity sing,

with each wind Ratna Dakinis' blessing bring!

Hang these where they will catch the wind regularly, releasing the magic.

Other ideas include the following:

Do something nice for someone who's been feeling blue lately, "just because". Give them some yellow flowers, offer a hug, or maybe make an extra bell amulet for them too! This boosts good karma, makes both of you feel good, and invokes Ratna Dakinis' blessings through thoughtfulness.

Note: This post was put together by Shirley Twofeathers for Gypsy Magic, you may repost and share it only if you give me credit and a link back to this website. Blessed be.

The eyes of a fish are particularly protective; eat them to invoke the magick. Cook and eat whole fish while visualizing protection. Draw fish images on parchment or formed out of metal to create talismans. Also eat fish for prosperity. A coin with a symbol of a fish makes a great talisman to carry for wealth. Use the skin of a fish in fertility magick.

Also known as: Ca Ong; Mr. Fish; Grandfather Fish; Lord FishOrigin: VietnamFavored people:Fishermen and men in general; Sir Fish is a men's deity.

Sir Fish is not exactly a fish: he's a whale. Sir Fish, King of the Sea, is a guardian deity in the form of a whale. He is the patron of fishermen whom he protects out on open waters. Sir Fish is widely venerated along the central and southern coasts of Vietnam. Festivals are held in his honor.....

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, The Powers That Be, and can be found in its entirety here: Sir Fish

Sunday, June 16, 2013

I don't often go in for channeled information, but this talk, or guided meditation, channelled through David Brown. can be a useful tool to reconnect with your inner parents. And there is a great explanation as to why this is important. So, here goes:

Greetings dear ones, for I AM KRYON of Magnetic Service.Once again it is wonderful to be here on this warm summer night. There is much love in the air; the planets are shifting, creating the right circumstances for you to meet your soul mates, your twin flames. Love is the only way and you will find love within another person. True love can only really be expressed through another person or other people and joy is an emotion you will experience in your relationships with others and by being with others. As we have said in past channellings, love will always find a way. Like the tiny drop of water that falls from a cloud and makes its way back to the ocean. Remember, love and joy are intimately connected....
... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, Book of Shadows, and can be found in its entirety here: Reconnecting Your Inner Mother and Father

About Hermaphroditus: This androgynous deity was once the son of Hermes, but he loved the nymph Salmakis so much that the lovers became of one body and soul, neither the male nor the female being discernible. In this form, Hermaphroditus reminds us that the Goddess is also God, blending the best of both sexes together into powerful, productive energy.

To Do Today:

At the midpoint of the year we take a moment's pause from the Goddess to honor her consort and other half, the God, represented by fathers everywhere. Take time to thank the special men in your life and pamper them today. Ask Hermaphroditus to show you the goddess within them, and how god and goddess work together, making each person unique.

In magic traditions, the god aspect is the conscious, logical force of the universe who offers us the attributes of leadership, reason, and focus. This persona and energy is part of the goddess - one cannot be separated from the other. This is a good day to look within yourself, find both aspects of the divine, and concentrate on bringing them into balance. If you're normally headstrong, back off a little. If you're normally a wallflower, get daring! If you like to plan, become spontaneous - and so forth. Hermaphroditus will show you the way.

Sometimes you have your love target in sight, and a little nudge is all that is needed. Some added sweetness can easily turn their thoughts toward you. Sweeten the disposition of your intended with this easy love potion!

Flirtatious and fun, strawberries can also stir things up and cause a lot of trouble - so be careful when you use them.

The fruit is often mixed into love potions, aphrodisiacs, and spells to attract an extramarital affair or to force a change in partners. The leaves can be used in lucky mojo bags, and also luck charms.

In France, strawberries are considered an aphrodisiac, and in mythology the strawberry is the symbol of Venus, the goddess of love. Also in France, newlyweds were served a traditional breakfast of strawberry soup with sour cream, sugar, and borage to celebrate their love.

In the folklore of several cultures it is believed that if two people split and share a double strawberry they will fall in love.

Strawberries were also served at important political and social events in the belief that they brought prosperity and peace.

Use strawberry fruits and baked goods as offerings when invoking Venus for help and support when it comes to matters of the heart.

The strawberry is a berry that is attached to many positive things through symbolism and folklore. The
flowers and berries together symbolize righteousness, perfection and spiritual merit in Christian art. The structure of the leaves, being trifoliate, represents the trinity. During medieval times, stone masons applied their carved strawberry signs onto altars and at the tops of pillars in churches and cathedrals.

Pagan tradition echoes this in that the three leaves are thought to represent the three-fold Earth or Mother Goddess. In Victorian flower language, the berry symbolizes perfection and “sweetness in life and character.” It also represents modesty because the berries are often found under the leaves.

In mythology, Strawberries are connected to the Norse goddess of love, Freyja. Also, a Norse legend exists where the spirits of children enter the afterlife by hiding in strawberries that are taken to heaven by Frigga, Oden’s wife. This may be related to the Native American view that wild berries are “a special gift of Creation” to children and women.

Many Native Americans believe that during enstruation and pregnancy a woman’s body becomes very toxic. Since they view strawberries and their leaves as blood purifiers and builders, laxatives, diuretics, and astringents, they can be used to cleanse the woman’s body during menstruation and after childbirth.

Because of their bright red colors and heart shapes, strawberries were the symbol for Venus, the Goddess of Love. Legends often tell about love rituals. Be careful with whom you share a double strawberry. It is destined that the two of you may fall in love.

If you live in Bavaria, somewhere out in the country, you might be participating in an annual spring ritual that recognizes the importance of strawberries. The farm folk make an offering to the elves that they believe will help their cows produce healthy calves and a good supply of milk. The spring offerings of little baskets filled with wild strawberries are tied to the horns of their cattle to wait for the berry-loving elves to enjoy the berries and offer their good spirits to their hosts.

Birthmarks that are the size, shape and/or color of strawberries are often called strawberry marks, and historically have been seen as a sign of witchcraft. Anne Boleyn, the second wife of Henry VIII, had a strawberry shaped birthmark on the back of her neck that was used as proof that she was a witch.

Karl von Linne, a Swedish botanist whose Latinized name was Carolus Linnaeus, defied common thinking and ate a diet of only strawberries to prove them quite edible.

But true to the nature of folklore in which something like the strawberry can have different meanings to different cultures, the strawberry was considered hazardous in certain parts of South America.

The Seneca Indians linked strawberries to spring and rebirth because they were the year’s first fruit. As such they hold a special place in the culture and, therefore, bring good health.

And, of course, there are the Roman legends about strawberries. Most commonly, that when Adonis died, Venus wept tears that dropped to the earth and became heart shaped strawberries.

Ever consider bathing in the juice of fresh strawberries? Twenty-two pounds of crushed strawberries made up the bathwater that went into the tub when Madame Talien, one of the court figures of Emperor Napoleon, took her bath. This ritual did not occur often since people did not bathe regularly during Napoleon's time, mid 1700s into the early 1800s.

Note: This post was compiled by ShirleyTwofeathers for Gypsy Magic. You may repost it only if you give credit and a link back. Bright Blessings.

About Awehai: In Iroquois tradition, this goddess reigns in the sky and the heavens, watching diligently over family life and the community. Mythology tells us that Awehai grabbed seeds and animals as she fell from heaven, landing on the back of a great turtle. From here, Awehai scattered the seeds and freed the animals, resulting in a growing, fertile earth filled with beauty.

To Do Today:

June is strawberry festival time, and the dates vary from place to place. According to the book, 365 Goddess
, the strawberry festival in Tonawanda New York was instituted by the Iroquois Indians. Here people come to the longhouse to enjoy ritual dancing, chanting, and the sounding of turtle-shell rattles, a symbol of Awehai. So, if you know any type of traditional ritual dances or chants, consider enacting them outside as you scatter grass seed to the wind. This will manifest Awehai's productivity in your life and in the earth.

Another custom is simpler and a lot of fun: consuming strawberries in as many forms as possible. In Iroquois tradition, these pave the road to heaven, and eating them ensures you a long life and Awehai's fertility. Share strawberries with a loved one to inspire Awehai's community oriented energy in your home, and consume fresh strawberries to harvest her powers for personal growth.

Thursday, June 13, 2013

There are many aspects of our lives which we would like to improve, but we just can't muster up the willpower. In your time of need, a crystal can come to your aid.

You can program a crystal to help you lose weight stop smoking or overcome any negative attitudes about yourself. For example, you want to stop eating chocolate but just can't. You know you should stop for health reasons but you don't have the will power....

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

On the 5th day of the 5th lunar month, Chinese communities celebrate the Duan Wu Festival 端午节, also known as the Dumpling Festival, or the Dragon Boat Festival. As it is a Chinese Lunar date, it falls on different days on the Gregorian calendar. In 2013, it falls on June 12.

In Korea, rice farmers wash their hair in a stream on this day as part of an annual ritual to dispel bad luck and to ensure an abundant crop. This ritual has taken place since ancient times.

Dano, also called Surit-nal, is a Korean traditional holiday that falls on the 5th day of the fifth month of the lunar Korean calendar. It is an official holiday in North Korea and one of the major traditional holidays in South Korea. South Korea has retained several festivals related to the holiday, one of which is Gangneung Dano Festival (강릉단오제) designated by UNESCO as a "Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity".

In the Mahan confederacy of ancient Korea, this was a day of spiritual rites, and enjoyment with song, dance, and wine. Traditionally, women washed their hair in water boiled with Sweet Flag (changpo (창포)), believed to make one's hair shiny. People wore blue and red clothes and dyed hairpins red with the iris roots. Men wore iris roots around their waist to ward of evil spirits. Herbs wet with dew on this morning were said to heal stomachaches and wounds. Traditional foods include surichitteok, ssuktteok, and other herb rice cakes.

The persisting folk games of Dano are the swing and ssireum (씨름). The swing was a game played by women, while ssireum was a wrestling match among men. In addition, mask dance used to be popular among peasants due to its penchant for satirical lyrics flouting local aristocrats.

Three of the most widespread activities for Duanwu Festival are eating (and preparing) zongzi, drinking realgar wine, and racing dragon boats.

Other common activities include hanging up icons of Zhong Kui (a mythic guardian figure), hanging mugwort and calamus, taking long walks, and wearing perfumed medicine bags. Other traditional activities include a game of making an egg stand at noon, and writing spells. All of these activities, together with the drinking of realgar wine, were regarded by the ancients as effective in preventing disease or evil and promoting health and well-being.

Duanwu Festival, also known as Dragon Boat Festival and the Double Fifth, is a traditional and statutory holiday originating in China and associated with a number of East Asian and Southeast Asian societies.The festival occurs on the 5th day of the 5th month of the lunisolarChinese calendar. This is the source of the alternative name of Double Fifth. The date varies from year to year on the Gregorian calendar in 2013, the date is today, June 12.

To the Chinese, dragons were not evil creatures, but helpful ones. They were said to bring rain and prosperity, rule all water, be healing, and chase away evil. Most people are familiar with the dragon images paraded during the Chinese New Year celebrations, but few understand that China had many other dragon festivals. Dragons are fascinating, but wily, creatures who have great power and magickal knowledge.

Boats decorated as dragons were sailed on rivers and lakes in the moonlight to entice the dragon-energies to come into the community. The people floated flowers on the waters to carry their messages to the dragons.

Dragons are wonderful supernatural beings. They have had bad experiences with human adults, though, and tend to be wary about making themselves known. If you are patient and persistent, you can entice dragons to be friends. The easiest to encounter are the guardian dragons, the "baby" of the species.

Personal guardian dragons come in various shapes and sizes, and are usually quite small in comparison with the adults. They come in all colors, pastel or light shades with belly scales of a multitude of hues. The little guardian dragons are almost always supervised by one or more adult dragons, which you may or may not see.

The little dragons are not as powerful as the larger ones, but they can help with protection, friendship, love, divination (such as tarot, runes, crystal reading) the development of psychic abilities, dancing, music, and general rituals. Their most important task, however, is protection of you, your family, and your home. They are more or less astral watch-dogs.

These little personal dragons are the most friendly of their species and the most fun=-loving. They enjoy impromptu rituals that include dancing, singing, and fun in general. They like ginger and sweet smelling or spicy incenses. They are likely to hang over your shoulder while you read cards or look into a crystal. If you have trouble visualizing your dragons, try putting a piece of crystal to your third eye on your forehead.

If you want to make friends with your guardian dragons, and let them know you are aware of their existence,do this simple welcoming ritual. Burn a candle, any color except black; this color is predominantly that of the huge Chaos Dragons. Burn a spicy or sweet incense. Set out a few crystals to draw their attention. then chant:

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

If someone you know is sick and you would like to help, make an image of them using green or blue cloth. If you are no expert at sewing, you still should be able to cut out two crude human outlines and stitch them together. The image can be very simple - or you can decorate it. The idea is that the cloth image or doll represents the person to receive the healing.

Just before they are completely sewn together, stuff the image with healing herbs. You can pick one or more from the following list and then stitch the image shut.

Place the herb stuffed doll gently between two blue candles. Light the candles and, if possible, burn a healing incense (one can be made using a mixture of cinnamon, rosebuds, and myrrh) in a censer placed behind the image.

All the while during the construction of the doll, concentrate on the person as being fully healed, alive, well, and back to normal. Do not see the disease or wound; do not think of it at all. Banish all thoughts of it from your mind; see the person as whole and well again.

When the image is completed, and it is lying between the candles, with the incense smoke twisting up behind it, say the following, or any heart-felt plea:

I have fashioned this image

Which is the perfect image of (name of person)

There is no need for (name of person) to be struck down

or harmed by any disease, illness, or health problem.

I know that you can restore her/him,

I know that his/her body can heal itself,

You, great healing god/goddess, you who are all powerful,

Can make this happen in the best possible way for (name of person)

All powerful (name of god or goddess),

Heal (name) of that which cannot be healed in any other way.

Any impassioned plea will be heard by the deity of your choice. If you are unsure who to call upon, here is a short listing of Gods and healing spirits that can be called upon for healing.

A picture of the God or Goddess you are petitioning may be placed under the doll to help establish a deeper connection with the healing spirit.

After the healing prayer, spend a few minutes in silence, then quench the candles and put everything carefully away.

Repeat the process for seven days in a row, placing the image between the candles and saying the above or similar words. During this time do not talk about the person as if they are ill, assume they are completely well and the illness or medical problem is just an illusion that will soon fade. If no promising results come immediately following those seven days, take the cloth doll carefully apart, scatter the herbs, bury all in the Earth, and make a new image. Work with this precisely as you did the last one.

Note: Such spells, of course, should be used in conjunction with orthodox healing methods, or when such methods have failed.Also, remember that the person receiving the healing must genuinely want to be well or the healing will not occur.

June 11 is the feast day of the Goddess Matuta, also known as Mater Matuta. Before the revision of the calendar, this was very close to the Summer Solstice. The goddess Fortuna shares the same feast day.

This Roman Goddess is the goddess of the dawn light but also has dominion over infants and sea travel. Her festival incorporated elaborate theatrical rituals enacted by Roman ladies of status in precisely this order:

A slave woman brought into Matuta's temple was then driven out with slaps and blows.

The women carried their sisters' children in their arms to receive matuta's blessings.

Exactly what these rituals meant to the Romans is now unclear, but the first part is often interpreted as a reenactment of Dawn vanquishing nocturnal spirits. The second part may represent Matuta's nurturing the sun, who is not her child but a relative. Alternatively it's a reminder to entrust your children to family, not to strangers or slaves. This was a women's Mystery tradition. There may have been an accompanying myth that is now unknown.

Matuta is invoked to protect your sister's children. An aunt must perform the invocation, not the mother.Favored people: Newborn babies whom she protects. Obviously, others may petition on their behalf.

About Pele: In Hawaii, Pele's fires develop and redevelop the islands through volcanic activity. It is this creative force that comes into our lives today, cleansing, transforming, and rebuilding, augmented by summer's fiery energy.

According to local legend, it is unwise to take any souvenir from Pele's mountain without asking or leaving a gift, lest bad luck follow you everywhere. She is zealously protective of her lands and her children. Traditional offerings include coins, strawberries, hair, sugarcane, flowers, tobacco, brandy, and silk.

About today:

Kamehameha the Great was the monarch of Hawaii between 1782 and 1819. He is well-known and respected for uniting and establishing the Kingdom of Hawaii in 1810. Kamehameha Day is held in his honor on June 11 each year.

King Kamahameha united the Hawaiian people, protecting commoners from the brutality of overlords, much as Pele unites them through her creative, protective power. This festival commemorates him and the traditions of Hawaii through arts and crafts, paradse, hula dancing, and luaus.

To do today:

At home, this might translate into having some tropical foods served steaming hot (the heat represents Pele's activiting energy). For example, eat pineapple fried in brown sugar for sweet harmony. Or consume fresh strawberries soaked in brandy to ignite your inner fires with Pele's inspiration. Finally, wear something red today to energize Pele's attributes in your efforts all day long.